The song Krishna Nee Begane Baro, a beautiful composition of Vyasaraya Tirtha in the raaga Yamuna Kalyani
We have all heard several versions of this song from many great singers. I like Bombay Jayashree version but it sounds too perfect of a rendition making me feel as if it is very methodical approach to rendering the song.
I think Unnikrishnans version is better since it generates the kind of pleading emotion most appropriate to the lyrics and the bhava with which Vyasarasaru may have composed. However, the rendition makes me feel more apathetic than anything else.
I like Jon Higgins version. You can enjoy it here –
The story goes, as written by V. Thiagarajan a friend of Jon Higgins, in the SPAN magazie –
A party of musicians, Jon among them, went to Udipi to see the Krishna temple. The American wore a dhoti and a kurta as was his custom in Madras . . . but he was much too fair complexioned to be an Indian, and the priests would not let him enter the temple… So Jon stood where Kanakadasa the untouchable had stood centuries ago, to catch a glimpse of the idol from a distance as best he could. His musician friends stood with him, refusing to go inside the temple if Jon was not allowed. Then it occurred to one of them to ask Jon to sing the famous song, “Krishna, nee begane baro,” a composition in Kannada…. When the air was filled with the vibrant melody of his splendid voice there was no keeping away the crowds that gathered around to hear him. The priests, astonished, begged the singer to come in, and what Kanakadasa could not achieve, the foreigner did.
Reading the story and listening to the Bhagavathars rendition brings a very beautiful feeling overall.
What do you think, is there a favorite version for you?
You must be logged in to post a comment.